1. Thread about networking for young lawyers/law students (I have a lot of thoughts and they are sort of jumbled up so please bare with me):

2. You may have seen a lot of chatter On Here lately that law jobs are obtained by "networking." While that is true, I think that word can be super scary to people, especially young people. I know when I was in law school the idea of networking scared the pants off of me.

3. I think a lot of that has to do with this antiquated notion of what it actually means to network. I can only speak for myself, but there are certain types of traditional networking events that I despise. Those include: Cocktail parties, big happy hours, large conferences, etc.

4. And guess what? I DO NOT GO TO THOSE. I have learned over the years that those do not work for me. And I learned that by seeing people who are REALLY good in those situations (looking at you @brynsherman8) and realizing that it just is not for me.

5. But here's the thing, I still network constantly. I just do it in a very different way. My skill set is building genuine, one-on-one friendships with folks. We don't even really ever talk law. It's mostly things that are going on in our own lives outside of work.

6. I think it was @J_Dot_J who pointed out the value in being a "connecter." I also LOVE doing that. Want to know the best hairdresser in town? I got you. Info about a certain school? Talk to so-and-so. Lawyer who does international arbitration in Peru? I'll find you one.

7. If this sounds like you (someone who hates big/industry gatherings but likes making one-on-one connections) here are some suggestions for "networking":
-Take a walk with a neighbor;
-Call a friend while you're driving in the car just to catch up;

8. -Text an article to a colleague or client about something they find interesting;
-Invite a client to a sporting event you both like;
-Get involved in a club that has nothing to do with law but is just a hobby you enjoy!

9. The point is, we all have the capability to "network" because the best networkers are the ones who connect with people while doing things that they actually enjoy. The key is finding _what_ you enjoy and going from there.

10. A lot of people will give you the advice that you need to do things that take you out of your comfort zone to bring in business or get a job. I get that. But I don't think that you should abandon your natural personality to make that happen.

11. And so if you take anything from this thread it is: Think of things you genuinely enjoy doing and figure out a way to make that into a network building opportunity.

12. Oh and never, ever, ever, ever be afraid to just flat out ask someone to help you find a job. I've realized over the years that this is something I LOVE doing and a lot of other folks do too.

13. Worst thing that will happen is the person says "sorry I don't know anyone looking but will keep an ear out!" And then guess who gets called when something finally turns up: The person who asked!

14. Last point: As a law student, it's really intimidating and hard to envision how this will work in the "real" world. I think if you approach building your network more as something you _want_ to do than _have_ to do, it becomes almost second nature and a lot less scary. END